GAMEDAY '08 ALABAMA (7-0, 4-0) vs. TENNESSEE (3-4, 1-3)
10.25.08 TIME: 6:45 p.m. TV: ESPN
Life without Cody When nose tackle Terrence Cody went down, Alabamaʼs dream season nearly came crashing to an end. Can the rest of the front seven step up in his absence?
Also inside • Fulmer on hot seat • Around the SEC • PS3 simulation
ON THE INSIDE
GameDay 2008 • October 23
ON THE HOT SEAT Renowned Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer has a lot on the line Saturday, potentially even his job. Page 8
TENNESSEE PREVIEW After a 1-3 start, Tennessee is trying to get back to .500 on the back of new starting quarterback Nick Stephens. Page 12
PS3 SIMULATION LIFE WITHOUT CODY An MRI revealed Terrence Cody is expected to be out only a couple weeks, but the rest of the rotation up front needs to elevate its play for now. Page 4
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Stat of the
week
Alabama’s win over Ole Miss on Saturday marked the first time a Nick Sabancoached team has started a season with seven consecutive victories. Saban had started 6-0 twice before this year with Michigan State (1999) and Toledo (1992).
GAMEDAY STAFF • Greg Ostendorf, GameDay editor • Jason Galloway, GameDay assistant editor • Corey Craft, editor-in-chief • Phil Owen, managing editor • Drew Hoover, photographer • Christi Cowan, designer
• Charity Scott, senior sports reporter • Cyrus Ntakirutinka, sports reporter • Ryan Wright, Crimson White sports editor • Eric McHargue, graphics editor • Breckan Duckworth, design editor • Robert Bozeman, assistant design editor
Would Alabama’s woes in Neyland Stadium continue in another edition of the Third Saturday in October? Page 3
GAME INFORMATION Alabama Crimson Tide (7-0) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (3-4) • Field: Neyland Stadium (102,037) • Place: Knoxville, Tenn. • Time: 6:45 p.m. • TV: ESPN • Radio: 1420 AM (Eli Gold, play-byplay; Tom Roberts, color analyst; Barry Krauss, sideline reporter)
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ROLL TIDE! 2008 - 2009 Schedule Game Date
Publish Date
Opponent
Location
8/30/08
Clemson
W Alabama- 34, Clemson- 10
9/06/08
Tulane
W Alabama- 20, Tulane- 6
9/13/08
Western Kentucky
W Alabama- 41, WKU- 7
9/20/08
Arkansas *
W Alabama- 49, Arkansas- 14
9/27/08
Georgia*
W Alabama- 41, Georgia- 30
10/04/08
Kentucky*
W Alabama- 17, Kentucky- 14
10/18/08
Ole Miss*
W Alabama- 24, Ole Miss- 20
10/25/08
Tennessee*
Knoxville, Tenn.
11/01/08
Arkansas State
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
10/31/08
11/08/08
LSU*
Baton Rouge, La.
11/06/08
11/15/08
Mississippi State*
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
11/14/08
11/29/08
Auburn*
Tusaloosa, Ala.
11/28/08
*
Homecoming Conference Game
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PICKS, PICKS, PICKS
October 23 • GameDay 2008
CW PICKS | WEEK 9 Ryan Wright
Greg Ostendorf
CW Sports editor
GameDay editor
38-18
36-20
Charity Scott
Will Barry
Senior Sports Reporter Senior Sports Reporter
Corey Craft CW editor
Phil Owen
Drew Gunn
CW managing editor Advertising manager
#2 BAMA @ Tennessee #6 Oklahoma St. @ #1 Texas #7 Georgia @ #13 LSU #3 Penn St. @ #9 Ohio St. #8 Texas Tech @ #23 Kansas Auburn @ West Virginia #16 USF @ Louisville Va. Tech @ #25 Florida St. Season record
the
student
SECTION
UA students talk about their expectations for the upcoming Crimson Tide game
Brad Hall Sophomore Accounting
Lisa Lawless Freshman Education
“Itʼll be a close game; Tennessee plays us close every year.”
“I think weʼll beat them pretty bad.”
Chris Luehmann Freshman German and marketing “Half my family are Tennessee fans, so this game is important.”
Johnny Bishop Senior English “Weʼll win pretty easily if we show we can play in the second half.”
Andre Cook Freshman Chemical engineering
Portia Keith Sophomore Nursing
“Weʼre going to do well in the first half and struggle in the second. 23-7.”
“Itʼs going to be a tough game. 24-20.”
43-13
37-19
37-19
39-17
BCS STANDINGS
40-16
AP POLL
1. Texas
1. Texas
2. Alabama
2. Alabama
3. Penn State
3. Penn State
4. Oklahoma
4. Oklahoma
5. USC
5. Florida
6. Oklahoma State
6. USC
7. Georgia
7. Oklahoma State
8. Texas Tech
8. Texas Tech
9. Ohio State
9. Georgia
10. Florida
10. Ohio State
11. Utah
11. LSU
12. Boise State
12. Utah
13. LSU
13. Boise State
14. TCU
14. South Florida
15. Missouri
15. TCU
16. South Florida
16. Missouri
17. Pittsburgh
17. Pittsburgh
18. Georgia Tech
18. BYU
19. Tulsa
19. Kansas
20. Ball State
20. Ball State
21. BYU
21. Georgia Tech
22. Northwestern
22. Tulsa
23. Kansas
23. Boston College
24. Minnesota
24. Florida State
25. Florida State
25. Minnesota
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OPPONENT PREVIEW
October 23 • GameDay 2008
Vols make desperate changes By Jason Galloway Assistant GameDay Editor They finally did it. The Volunteers finally won a game against a BCS-conference team, and it only took five tries. After a dismal 2-4 start, Tennessee’s 34-3 drubbing of Mississippi State last Saturday was a confidence boost the Vols sorely needed, a game they absolutely could not afford to lose. Tennessee had lost to all four BCS-conference teams it faced prior to last week, three of them SEC foes, and narrowly escaped a tragic defeat to Northern Illinois, a Mid-American Conference team, nipping the Huskies 13-9 in Neyland Stadium earlier this season. “We had been practicing well but not really playing that well,” said Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer on the Vols’ weekly “Inside the Coaches Office” video. “We changed a number of things [last week] — looked at schemes, looked at personnel, look at our practice schedule. A lot of things trying to get us where we wanted to be, and some or all of it helped us and it worked out.” With 16 starters back from a team that went to the SEC championship game a year ago, a good reason for the Volunteers’ poor play should be hard to find. However, with a new quarterback behind center after the graduation of Eric Ainge and the departure of offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe to Duke, Tennessee’s offense has noticeably dropped off from its 2007 campaign. Out of 120 FBS teams in the country, Tennessee ranks 113th in completion percentage, at just 50 percent, and 105th in passing efficiency, two categories in which
UT Sports Information Volunteer quarterback Nick Stephens stands firm in the pocket during his first start against Northern Illinois earlier this year. Since becoming the starter, he has thrown three touchdowns and not turned the ball over. the Volunteers ranked in the top 30 last season. After an 8-of-23 aerial performance by opening day starter Jonathon Crompton against Auburn on Sept, 27, Fulmer yanked the junior and went with sophomore Nick Stephens for the Vols next game. Stephens is now 2-1 and has not turned the ball over in his three games as the starter. He has also thrown three touchdowns in that span. “Nick Stephens has done a good job as he’s played in these last few games at quarterback,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said.
Defensively, the Volunteers are very stingy, giving up only 16 points per game, good enough for 17th nationally. Tennessee’s pass rush came to life against Mississippi State last week, pressuring Bulldog quarterback Tyson Lee into three interceptions. Vols’ safety Eric Berry eclipsed the 60-year old SEC record for career interception return yards when he picked off Lee and returned it for a 72-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. One of the best safeties in the country, Berry could shatter the record, as he is only a sophomore
this year. “[Berry] is arguably one of the best players in our conference,” Saban said. “He makes a ton of plays and has the ability to run with it after he catches it.” Coming away with a conference victory last week was huge for Tennessee, but did that game truly indicate constistency for the Volunteers? Fulmer said the changes his team made for the Mississippi State game will remain constant, and he hopes the results will as well. “We will stay the same and just cross our fingers,” he said.
“Get on board The Entertai n ment Bus route”
Thursday & Saturday nights 10pm- 3am Friday Nights 10pm-4am -Cost is $2 (Bama Cash only) one way for UA Students & two guest for whom they are responsible. -They will run home & away game weekends. Gameday start time my be subject to change -2 Crimson Ride buses will run simultaneousley & should be 10-15 minutes apart. -Alcohol is not allowed on the bus. **Students MUST remember to have Bama Cash on their accounts to use the service**
WATER COOLER TALK
GameDay 2008 • October 23
The Road to Miami
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PS3 SAYS | TENNESSEE 14, ALABAMA 10
Tide blows lead, falls to rival By Cyrus Ntakirutinka Sports Reporter Alabama suffered a gut-wrenching loss to Tennessee at Neyland Stadium as the Crimson Tide fell to the Volunteers by a score of 14-10 in the eighth game of the PS3 simulation season. Alabama’s offense struggled in the first quarter against Tennessee’s stingy defense, but the Tide’s defense kept the team in the game early. On the Volunteers’ second play of the game, linebacker Dont’a Hightower intercepted a Jonathan Crompton pass intended for wide receiver Josh Briscoe. The Tide’s offense could only manage a drive into field goal territory, settling for a 44-yarder by Leigh Tiffin that put Alabama on the board first, up 3-0 with 2:38 left in the quarter. Following a 28-yard return by Briscoe, the Vols manufactured a 49-yard drive to get into Tide territory. Crompton then completed a pass to tight end Luke Stocker for 14 yards to put Tennessee at the Alabama 20-yard line. Safety Rashad Johnson quickly answered by picking off Crompton to end the first frame. With the change of momentum, Alabama’s offense began firing behind running back Glen Coffee and wide receiver Nikita Stover. Wilson connected with Stover on two passes of 15 yards each to put the offense on
Tennessee’s 32-yard line. After a bruising run by Coffee for nine yards, • Fat Phil will be fired after the game he exploded to the left side of the line for a 24yard touchdown run to put Alabama up 10-0. It this week! would be the Tide’s final points. After a Tennessee three-and-out, Alabama • The flea flicker should have been a was pinned on its own one-yard line thanks to a 53-yard punt by Britton Colquitt. Wilson top-10 Sportscenter play of the week. threw a pass that was intercepted by Antonio Gaines and returned 16 yards for the touch• Texas deserves to be over us for down to put the first half score at 10-7. Tennessee’s defense did not let up in the sec- now. Their back-to-back wins over ond half. Following a 58-yard punt that landed Oklahoma and Missouri were extremeat the Alabama one-yard line, Wilson was again picked off, this time by linebacker Nevin ly impressive. McKenzie, who housed it from four yards out for the touchdown to put Tennessee up 14-10. • In case of tornado warnings all Alabama struggled to gain any momentum the rest of the game and had very little Alabama residents are required to time left to regain the lead. The Vols replaced report to Jordan-Hare Stadium in Crompton with quarterback Nick Stephens, who managed the clock well, completing 8- Auburn because it’s guaranteed that of-9 passes for 70 yards to seal the deal for there won’t be any touchdowns there. Tennessee. John Parker Wilson finished the game with two interceptions and no touchdowns while • How did USC make the top five in completing 16-of-22 passes for 146 yards. Coffee the BCS? They already lost to Oregon finished the game with 16 carries for 70 yards State and play the Pac-10 every week. and a touchdown. Alabama is now 4-4 on the PS3-simulated Submissions, 50 words or fewer, should be sent to tailgatetalk@gmail.com season.
GameDay 2008 •October 23 have two receivers back. They have three or four very good runners. Nick Stephens has done a good job since he has played in these last few games at quarterback.” All of this adds up to quite a test for a defense that is now missing one of its most talented and consistent players. Saban said he has several players in mind to try to help to pick up the slack, including sophomore nose guard Josh Chapman, Nick Gentry and possibly Lorenzo Washington, amongst others. Fans should be familiar with Chapman already, since he has played nose guard for roughly onethird of the defensive plays, even when Cody was healthy. “He plays with strength; he plays with power,” Saban said. “He plays run blocks very well. He is a true nose guard for what we want, and he has played all year.” Many of the team’s leaders, such as junior cornerback Javier Arenas, junior offensive tackle Andre Smith and senior defensive end Bobby Greenwood, said they understand the significance of the losing Cody for a couple of weeks, but players like Chapman are more than capable of playing well in his stead. “I don’t think losing him will be so obvious on the field because we have a guy stepping in that’s just as capable,” Arenas said referring to Chapman. “He’s a tad bit smaller but I think it really won’t be different. We would love to have Cody in there as any team in the country would. We just have to adapt and play our game.” He said Chapman deserves more credit than he gets. “I think he gets overlooked, but it doesn’t affect his
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play. Josh moves guys back just as far as [Cody] and plays the run just as good. They’re kind of equivalent to me.” Greenwood said that both Cody and Chapman have very similar playing styles, which will make it easier for the defensive line to adjust to Cody not being there. “They both play about the same, so it doesn’t really change anything for us,” he said. “Terrence definitely had a big weight factor, but Chapman’s a good player. He hustles to the ball and is doing all the right things.” Fortunately for the Tide and their fans, Chapman and the rest of the defensive line are expected to have Cody back in the trenches with them before they face games against LSU and Auburn to close out the season. Saban said Cody’s injury is similar to the one Smith had earlier this season when he missed a week of practice. Smith said he was able to come back from his injury relatively quickly, and he expects Cody to do the same. “The main thing is the pain after the fact,” Smith said. “We have a great training staff here and they do an outstanding job. I think he’ll be back fast like I was.” As for Chapman, the man who is expected to bear the brunt of the work at nose guard with Cody out, he said he will try to fill in for Cody as best he can both on the field and off. “I guess my job is just to try to bring the same thing that he brought to the table,” Chapman said. “He brings a lot of energy out there. He’s CW | Drew Hoover a funny guy. I guess I can throw a couple jokes out there to try to help Bobby Greenwood pressures the Rebelsʼ Jevan Snead. Greenwood is one of many who will be forced to step up in the absence of Cody. the team.”
10.18.08 Julio Jones avoids a tackler on his way to a 40yard gain. Ole Miss contained the Tide始s running game last Saturday, but the passing game came to the rescue. John Parker Wilson passed for 219 yards and two first-half touchdowns in the 24-20 win. CW | Drew Hoover
on winning two tickets to the amp energy 500 race!
You won’t find Any Orange Here!
Open Game Day at: Ferguson Center Tutwiler Hall Bryant Museum Tent on the Quad
supestore.ua.edu
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LIFE WITHOUT CODY
October 23 • GameDay 2008
Defense unfazed by injury By Charity Scott Senior Sports Reporter If your eyes were closed you’d have never guessed the stadium was filled to capacity. The student section was packed with fans who momentarily forgot how to breathe, and more than 92,000 people, most of them Crimson Tide fans, silently looked on, their eyes fixed on one thing. Terrence Cody, lying on the field in pain. Cody underwent an MRI over the weekend, and head coach Nick Saban said he sustained a sprained
medial collateral ligament in his right knee during the Tide’s win over Mississippi 24-20. Saban said Cody will most likely be out for a couple of weeks, missing an away game against a dangerous Tennessee team Saturday and next week’s Arkansas State game at home. He said there are a number of players who will have to step in and step up to fill the gaping whole left by number 62, who some fans affectionately call Mount Cody, but the team will still feel a bit different emotionally without him in
the lineup. “I don’t think you replace guys like Cody,” Saban said. “He is a very good player, and he has played well for us. I think the other players like him and have a lot of confidence in him.” Regardless of the changes that will come from Cody’s injury, Saban said the onus is on his team to stick behind whoever’s filling in for the junior defensive lineman. “I think this is a time for players to support the players that are going to play,” he said. “We all want to support Cody and help
him get back and get healthy so he can play well again. I am sure that’s what he wants. That’s what we want. That’s what the other players want, but we have to help support the other players that are going to play. I think the leadership on the team understands that and will certainly do that.” Saban said this will be especially important against a Tennessee team that will be a bigger challenge than its 3-4 record lets on. “They have eight starters back on offense; the offensive line is very, very good,” he said. “They
CW | Drew Hoover Defensive end Brandon Deaderick takes down Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead on the final drive of the game to preserve the 24-20 victory.
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October 23 • GameDay 2008
ON THE HOT SEAT
Must-win game for Fulmer By Greg Ostendorf GameDay Editor
Knoxville, but all over the country. The seat under the Vols coach became even hotter before the With the recent firings and Mississippi State game when rumors swirling in college foot- Tennessee athletic director Mike ball, Saturday’s game in Knoxville Hamilton said on Oct. 14: “Our goals may go a long way in determining are not to be a .500 ball club.” “Our traditional model at the whether or not Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer will be back University of Tennessee is that we evaluate these kinds of things on on the sidelines next season. This may come as a surprise con- a year-end basis,” Hamilton went on to say. “That sidering that prior to doesn’t preclude the season Fulmer you from doing had the highest winsomething differning percentage of ent.” any active coach [Fulmer’s] going to In addition to the who had coached at least 10 seasons. He get his team playing comments made by the athletic ranked above legbetter and better as director, students ends Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno the season goes on. on campus have also begun to outwith a .766 mark. I’m sure of that. wardly express This season, their displeasure Fulmer and the -Head Coach Nick Saban with Fulmer. The Volunteers sit at 3Rock on campus 4 with a dismal 1-3 had “fire Phil” start to SEC play. Tennessee was upset in their first spray painted on it after the Florida game of the year by UCLA, and game earlier this year. Clemson already proved that it’s after a win over UAB, the Vols were possible to fire a successful head dismantled by Florida 30-6. Last week, Fulmer finally got his coach midway through the season first conference win by drubbing after giving Tommy Bowden the Mississippi State 34-3 at home, but axe six games in. Bowden led the the team still has a lot of work to do Tigers to winning seasons eight to even reach a bowl game. That’s a years in a row, but an underachievfar cry from last year’s team, which ing 3-3 start, including a blow out played in the SEC Championship by Alabama, wasn’t good enough. Auburn also made a midseason game. “Phillip Fulmer has been there change when they fired offenfor a long time,” head coach Nick sive coordinator Tony Franklin. Saban said. “He has a lot of expe- Franklin, who took over in rience, and he has won a lot of December, had not even been there games. He’s going to get his team for an entire season before getting playing better and better as the the boot. “It’s not my position to make season goes on. I’m sure of that.” Fulmer better hope that Saban those kinds of decisions,” Saban is right because rumors of his said when asked about the rumors dismissal at the end of this sea- involving Fulmer. “Every instituson have been heard not just in tion has administrators to make
“”
UT Sports Information Tennesseeʼs Phillip Fulmer came into the sesaon ranked sixth all time in SEC wins, but that may not be enough to save his job after a slow start. those decisions. I’m not trying to influence those decisions, but as a coach and out of loyalty to my colleague, Phillip Fulmer has been a good coach for a long time.” Even with that said, expect the
Vols to try to pull out all the stops against Alabama Saturday. Fulmer knows the importance of the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry and realizes this year’s game may be the biggest yet.
SEC ROUNDUP
Around
the
conference
GameDay 2008 • October 23
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Compiled by Jason Galloway Assistant GameDay Editor
#9 Georgia at #11 LSU
Kentucky at #5 Florida
Time: 2:30 p.m. on CBS Series: LSU leads 14-11-1 What to watch for: LSU bounced back after its embarrassing 30-point blowout loss to Florida by beating South Carolina on the road 24-17 last week. The Tigers are starting to find a good balance in giving both Jarrett Lee and Andrew Hatch playing time at quarterback. Georgia’s only blemish is its loss to Alabama at home on September 27, and the Bulldogs’ offense remains one of the most dangerous in the SEC with playmakers like Knowshon Moreno and A.J. Green.
Time: 11:30 a.m. on Raycom Series: Florida leads 40-17 What to watch for: Kentucky avoided its third straight loss last week when the Wildcats had to come from behind to beat a bad Arkansas team 21-20 at home. Florida beat the Razorbacks 38-7 two weeks earlier, and trounced then No. 4 LSU by 30 points the next week. Coming off a bye, a Gator team that is still trying to prove itself after its loss to Ole Miss earlier this season should be almost a lock for a win against the Wildcats.
Auburn at West Virginia
Ole Miss at Arkansas
Time: 6:30 p.m. on ESPN Series: First meeting What to watch for: This seemed like a more intriguing match-up before the season started. West Virginia looked to have a very imposing offense in quarterback Pat White’s senior year, but the Mountaineers have only scored more than 27 points once all season. Auburn has struggled of late, dropping three of its last four, with the passing game continuing to be an issue.
Time: 6 p.m. on PPV Series: Arkansas leads 30-23-1 What to watch for: Both teams suffered close losses last week. Arkansas fell to Kentucky but is finally starting to be competitive in the SEC after being blown out in each of its first three conference games. Ole Miss nearly beat its second top-5 team of the season last week in Alabama. The Rebels’ four losses have come by a combined 19
Duke at Vanderbilt
Middle Tennessee at Miss. State
Time: 2 p.m. (no TV) Series: Vandy leads 7-3 What to watch for: After a shocking 5-0 start for Vanderbilt, the Commadores have dropped two straight road games. To avoid a collapse bigger than its 2005 disaster, Vandy must get back on track this week against a 3-3 Duke team that has also played well but lost two straight.
Time: 6 p.m. on ESPNU Series: Mississippi State leads 2-0 What to watch for: After an upset of Vanderbilt, Mississippi State got blown out at Tennessee last week. At 2-5, the Bulldogs need to win out to guarantee a bowl trip for the second straight year. MTSU has struggled but nearly knocked off Kentucky and did beat 5-2 Maryland earlier this season.
GameDay 2008 • October 23 “A lot of people are saying that Tennessee has their backs to the wall,” junior Mike Johnson said. “We can’t concern ourselves with what Tennessee’s doing. We’ve got to come out and do the same thing that has won us seven ballgames this year.” The rest of the Alabama players know it doesn’t matter that the Vols are only 3-4 this year. Even if Tennessee is having a down year, they are going to be ready to play Saturday and give the Tide all they can handle. “Their record is out the window now against us,” quarterback John Parker Wilson said. “It doesn’t matter how good we’ve done or how good they’ve done. They’re going to show up to play.” They have even more incentive with Alabama undefeated and ranked No. 2. A win could ruin the Tide’s perfect season and turn theirs around. “I think they want it bad,” senior Rashad Johnson said. “We all know it’s a rivalry game for them as well. They’re definitely coaching up and getting ready to play, and they’re going to do everything they can to come out and beat us and try and spoil what we have going.” Alabama has not won in Knoxville since 2002 and has not beaten the Volunteers in back-toback years since the 1991 and 1992 seasons. That just shows how close this storied rivalry has been over the years and how anything can happen when these teams meet. “I think everyone knows the rivalry and the history that goes along with playing Tennessee,”
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CW File Safety Roman Harper jars the football loose just as Tennessee was on the verge of scoring a go-ahead touchdown with five minutes remaining in Alabamaʼs 6-3 win over the Vols in 2005. The Tide got the ball back and marched down the field to set up a game-winning field goal by Jamie Christensen. Wilson said. “People around here take this game seriously. It’s a big game and it’s definitely a big game for us. We know that and they know that. It makes everything go quicker. It puts a bigger price on everything.” For Phillip Fulmer, who holds an 11-4 record against Alabama,
that price may be his job. The Tennessee players know they need a win to turn their season around and potentially save their head coach. “For those guys, there would be nothing better for them than to beat us and change their season,” Rashad Johnson said.
Rivaly Revisted: Scores since 2003 2003: 2004: 2005: 2006: 2007:
UA
UT
43 13 6 13 41
51 17 3 16 17
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October 23 • GameDay 2008
A LOOK BACK: OLE MISS
Top left: Linebacker Eryk Anders sacks Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead on third down early in the second quarter. The Tide scored on the ensuing possession.
Top right: No. 2 Alabama sprints out of the tunnel before the game, prepared to prove it deserves its high ranking against the Rebels.
Left: On a flea flicker play, quarterback John Parker Wilson throws a pass to Mike McCoy in the end zone, giving the Tide a 24-3 advantage before haltime. Photos by Drew Hoover